CenterPoint Energy, PG&E, SDG&E Top Smart Grid Maturity Ranking

CenterPoint Energy, PG&E and SDG&E have topped a ranking of smart grid maturity in North America released by GTM Research.

The three utilities each scored 4.2 on the average maturity scale, a metric that the report – titled The Utility Smart Grid Outlook in North America 2013 – bases on a utility’s smart grid portfolio, enterprise management and integration, communication networks, consumer engagement, and data management and analytics.

Electric cars and vehicles have low emissions and can become integral parts of a smart grid, where they do not just consume power, but also provide mobile storage of energy acquired during periods of high electricity generation from renewable sources, high winds or sunshine. In times of high demand, they can feed electricity back into the grid. Therefore, electromobility’s greatest potential for climate protection is the interaction with renewable energies and sustainable mobility.http://www.usa.siemens.com/electromobility/electromobility.html